Anna-Marie Raven ~ Evoking Art Everyday

giving on Thanksgiving...

Pazi's Place ~ Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday...

even as a little girl...

I remember sitting on the high stool in the kitchen with my grandmother...

before the sun rose...

while the rest of the household slept...

peeling potatoes for her as she lovingly and quietly prepared a feast for our family.

This year, is very different for me than any other...

I am cut off from my past...

so I did what I do best...

what I do when I don't know what else to do...

I gave...

not much...

in hindsight, I wasn't even needed...

but I was present...

and ready to embrace and welcome anyone who did not have a table to go to this Thanksgiving...

I witnessed tears of pain...

tears of joy...

tears of gratitude...

I was hugged by grateful, tender souls...

who were truly thankful for the dinner and company that was given freely to them this day...

I was simply present...

I don't know if I made any difference today for anyone...

but what I do know is that selfishly, by giving...

I made it through the day...

with only a few tears of my own...

and for that, I am thankful...

mornin' love...

heart sighting while making an egg sandwich for a customer - 11/17/11

Whenever I'm feeling a little stretched thin...

hearts appear in my world...

little messengers...

speaking encouragement & promise to my soul.

I've been working alot lately...

for others...(how did that happen?)

feeling a little stretched thin these days...

but pushing through...

looking ahead to a sojourn of sorts...

knowing it will be the perfect medicine for my heart and soul.

mind of it's own...

my hair right before bed 11/9/11

it's speaking to me...

my hair.

showing me...

telling me it's time.

it amazes me each night lately...

how, with no coaxing at all...

it twists...

and turns...

and knots itself.

It's as if little faeries are dancing throughout my hair...

starting to lock it up.

And while I had always planned on having my tresses professionally locked to begin with...

it makes me smile when I witness the impatience my hair is demonstrating as it trys to dread itself daily.

So even though I currently tame my tresses each night to keep the locking process at bay for now...

I know that my dreadlock journey has already begun...  

early dawn...

 

my view this morning...

there's something about waking on the sea...

where by I have no choice but to pause as I start the day...

my soul is infused differently somehow...

it feels curious...

and quiet.

so I open myself wide...

I welcome the opportunity for deeper understanding.

and this evening...

I couldn't help but take a little walk to the water's edge alone...

she spoke gently to me...

the sea.

As she lapped the shore, I could feel her tender touch...

it was as if she were rhythmically, gently stroking my hair...

sweet, sacred, and ancient...

magical...

a not so gentle reminder...

10/30/11 ~ laying it down...

not too long ago...

I scrolled a single word on a scrap of paper...

a little release...

and instantly I knew that I wanted to wear that word...

everyday...

to remind myself...

that I am "sacred" and must come first...

and now, it lives with me forever...

as a beautiful...

yet, not so gentle reminder.